Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The fifth-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team (1-0) opened its 2000 season Tuesday afternoon with a 6-2 victory over Florida A&M (1-1) at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex. Florida improves to 12-0 in season openers under head coach Ian Duvenhage. The two teams used a format that the Intercollegiate Tennis Association is experimenting with this season. In doubles play, a team that sweeps all three doubles matches is awarded two points, while a team that wins two of three doubles matches earns one point. In singles play, a 10-point match tiebreaker is played in place of a third set.
 
The Gators opened play by sweeping all three doubles matches to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Troy Hahn, making his collegiate debut, extended the UF lead to 3-0 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kareem Bennett at number five singles. Junior Jeff Morrison, the defending NCAA singles champion, followed with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ivan Lalic at number two singles and junior Will Brown clinched the Gator win at number six singles, 6-4, 6-2 over Noel Wadawu. Senior Trey Adcock also won in singles with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Robert Beautelus at number three.
 
Two Gators, Jeff Morrison and Justin O'Neal, will be in action this Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 3-6 at the 2000 Rolex National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in Dallas, Texas. As a team, Florida will next be in action this Tuesday, Feb. 8 when it hosts Georgia State at 1:00 p.m. at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
 
No. 5 FLORIDA (1-0)       6
Florida A&M (1-1)            2
Tuesday, February 1, 2000
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 - Marcos Asse-Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Robert Beautelus-Kamau Murray (FAMU) 8-1
No. 2 - Troy Hahn-Nathan Overholser (UF) d. Ivan Lalic-Isaac Yarrell (FAMU) 8-4
No. 3 - Trey Adcock-Matt Behrmann (UF) d. Kareem Bennett-Jerry Joseph (FAMU) 8-6
 
SINGLES
No. 1 - Jerry Joseph (FAMU) d. Nathan Overholser (UF) 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 (tiebreaker)
No. 2 - Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Ivan Lalic (FAMU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 - Trey Adcock (UF) d. Robert Beautelus (FAMU) 7-6 (4), 6-2
No. 4 - Isaac Yarrell (FAMU) d. Matt Behrmann (UF) 7-6 (5), 6-2
No. 5 - Troy Hahn (UF) d. Kareem Bennett (FAMU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 - Will Brown (UF) d. Noel Wadawu (FAMU) 6-4, 6-2